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Many people express alarm that Astrology doesn't use the same
map of the sky as Astronomers. They point to this as an example
of the fallacy of Astrology. They say with disdain, "Astrology
doesn't even use the same sky map as Astronomy!" To them
the argument is over. Enough said. I don't see it that way.
I use several different types of maps to get around in my
local area in Florida. I have road maps, topographical maps,
surveys, nautical maps, and aeronautical maps. They all show
the same thing but from an entirely different perspective.
Astronomy uses a different coordinate system of mapping the
heavens than does Astrology. I use them both but for different
purposes.
Astronomical maps use a sidereal scheme of the universe. Astronomy
has a zero degree on it's sky map just the same as Astrology.
But they are not in the same place anymore. They were the same when the Hellenic Greeks drew the first maps of the sky over two thousand years ago. The problem is that the sky is in
motion. And before too long the two sciences found themselves
growing farther and farther apart in the sky.
Astronomy needs for it's purposes a fixed map of the sky. They
want to know exactly where a star is on a sky with a permanent
zero degree on the sky map. If anything moves they can plot
it's movement on a fixed coordinate. This is all very good for
their purposes. I congratulate them on such a fine system.
Time Based System vs Space Based System
Astrology is not as concerned with the fixed backdrop of stars.
Astrology is much more of a time based system than a space based
system. Astrology's zero degree mark is based in time not in
a fixed location in space. The Vernal Equinox is the major demarcation
for Astrology. Wherever the Sun crosses the Celestial Equator
on it's journey North is considered to be zero degrees Aries
and the rest of the Zodiac follows.
The separation between the two systems is referred to as the
Precession of the Equinox. Today the separation between the
two mapping systems is about thirty degrees and growing. This
makes no bigger difference to the Astrologer than to the Astronomer.
Neither should care less.
I love Astronomical sky maps and charts. I have over $300us
invested in Astronomical Sky Maps. I have them in white on black
and black on white. I have them in sheet form and in bound form.
I also have several good Astronomy programs on my PC and Mac.
But these are useless for Astrological purposes.
Astrological Charts are drawn with the Subject being the "Center
of the Universe." The chart shows the horizon, the ecliptic,
the planets including the Moon, their relational angle to each
other and their orientation overhead and underfoot. Astrology
concerns itself with the Midheaven and not the Zenith. The Midheaven
is the highest point of the Ecliptic relative to where the Subject
is located in latitude. The Zenith is simply the point straight
overhead from where the observer is located regardless of latitude.
It all comes down to different strokes for different folks.
Astrologers were the ones to draw the first maps anyway. Astrologers
were the ones to originally notice the variance. The two disciplines
require different ways of looking at the Universe. Both systems
are very accurate and both serve their intended purposes quite
well. They both represent a very clear way of looking at the
heavens. They are both here to stay.
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